Hawaii lawmakers have introduced a bill banning a hotly
disputed treatment that aims to turn gay teens heterosexual on the basis
that being gay is an illness.
The proposed law, which was introduced in both the Senate
and the House, says being gay is not a disorder. Supporters of the ban
on gay-conversion therapy say it would protect lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender teens from serious harm caused when parents force them
into therapy to become heterosexual.
The bill would make it illegal for teachers or professional
counselors to try to change someone’s sexual orientation. It would also
ban advertising that promotes changing sexual orientation.
“These children, these teenagers are quite vulnerable,” Democratic
Rep. Della Au Belatti said. “This is an issue because we don’t want them
to be subject to further pressure and stigmatization during their
formative years in school.”
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Republican Rep. Bob McDermott, who took the state to court to challenge
the same-sex marriage law, said he does not support the ban on
conversion therapy and expects the bill to be contentious in the
community.
Hawaii lawmakers: Ban gay conversion therapy for minors – LGBTQ Nation
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